schoolsbycounty

Harlan County Schools & Education

School Score

70/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Higher Signal

Graduation Rate

90.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

90.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 86.9%

Per-Pupil Spending

$10,456

National avg $13,239

State avg $10,521

School Score

70/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 64/100

State Score Position

#32

of 93 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Harlan County

Measured School Summary

Harlan County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 70/100 and a graduation rate of 90.0%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.

Funding Context

Harlan County spends $10,456 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 10% above the Nebraska average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 3.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 1% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Harlan County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

2 public schools and 1 district are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

70/100

Higher measured signal. Ranks #32 of 93 Nebraska counties with school score data.

Completion

90.0%

3.1 pts above the state average

Funding context

$10,456

$65 below the state average

School coverage

2

1 district represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county screens well on the combined school metrics available here. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Harlan County has 2 public schools across 1 district, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

Parent decision brief

What Harlan County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Small-system county

Harlan County has a compact public-school footprint. A single school change, boundary rule, or district update can move the lived experience more than the county score suggests.

State position

#32

of 93 Nebraska counties with school score data. The county score is 6 points above the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

ALMA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary and high visible

359 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

ALMA PUBLIC SCHOOLS is the largest listed district slice, with 2 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Harlan County?

Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?

Where do students transition after the visible grade band, and is that next school inside the same district path?

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Harlan County, Nebraska

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

Streamlined Education Through Alma Public Schools

Harlan County operates a focused educational system consisting of two primary schools within a single school district. This consolidated approach serves a total enrollment of 359 students across the elementary and high school levels. The streamlined infrastructure ensures that all county resources remain concentrated on a unified student body.

A Unified Community at Alma Public Schools

Alma Public Schools manages the entire county student population across its two specialized facilities. The district currently operates no charter schools, maintaining a traditional public school focus for all 359 enrolled students. This single-district model fosters a tight-knit community where every student is part of the same educational journey.

Small Rural Schools Offer Personal Attention

Both schools in the county are classified as rural, creating a consistent and quiet learning environment for all children. Alma Elementary is the larger of the two with 192 students, while Alma High School serves 167 students in grades 7-12. With an average size of 180 students, these schools offer a personalized experience where teachers know every face.

School Overview

Total Schools

2

in Harlan County

Reported Enrollment

359

2 schools reporting

School Districts

1

district

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary1
Middle0
High1
Other0

1 School District in Harlan County

ALMA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2 schools
359 students enrolled

2 Public Schools in Harlan County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 2 of 2 matching schools

ALMA ELEMENTARY AT ALMA

ALMA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ALMA, 68920 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary192 students

ALMA HIGH SCHOOL

ALMA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ALMA, 68920 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High167 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$10,456

State avg $10,521

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Harlan County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Nebraska counties have the highest graduation rates?
Washington County (96.3%), Seward County (96.2%), and Keith County (95.4%) currently lead Nebraska among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in Nebraska?
Across Nebraska counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $10,521. The highest current county values are Wheeler County ($19,491), Sioux County ($18,861), and Loup County ($18,703). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Harlan County?
Harlan County has a school score of 70/100, which is a higher measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Harlan County?
The high school graduation rate in Harlan County is 90.0%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Harlan County spend per student?
Harlan County spends $10,456 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Harlan County, Nebraska — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Harlan County, Nebraska?

Harlan County operates a focused educational system consisting of two primary schools within a single school district. This consolidated approach serves a total enrollment of 359 students across the elementary and high school levels. The streamlined infrastructure ensures that all county resources remain concentrated on a unified student body.

What are the major school districts in Harlan County, Nebraska?

Alma Public Schools manages the entire county student population across its two specialized facilities. The district currently operates no charter schools, maintaining a traditional public school focus for all 359 enrolled students. This single-district model fosters a tight-knit community where every student is part of the same educational journey.

What is the school experience like in Harlan County?

Both schools in the county are classified as rural, creating a consistent and quiet learning environment for all children. Alma Elementary is the larger of the two with 192 students, while Alma High School serves 167 students in grades 7-12. With an average size of 180 students, these schools offer a personalized experience where teachers know every face.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.